Crochet Granny Grows On You

The granny square is one of the most widely used patterns in crochetdom. I have a friend who ONLY crochets the granny square, creating a single large square pattern for a baby afghan or a full size afghan. She has no desire to learn more stitches! Other people have complained bitterly about not being able to learn to do this ubiquitous square. Whether the granny is your favorite or least favorite pattern, it certainly has an easy stitch pattern to follow if you needn’t worry about those troublesome turns. I believe that one should strive to learn the turns to make the squares as they can be very useful. I just prefer not making squares cuz then I must join them. That’s far less fun to me than making the squares themselves. But, in the spirit of egalitarian crochet, here are some granny projects for everyone.

The Granny Stripe Color Burst would be a hit at any baby shower. I love the bright colors, but if you prefer pastels, just change the colors. The pattern is a free offering from Susie on her blog. See the link below.

The colors in this rectangular granny belie it’s age – but, again, you can use any colors you like. The thing I like about the pattern is the detail with which its written. If you have trouble making those turns, this is the pattern for you! You can use the same technique to make anything from a washcloth to an afghan to cover a king size bed. Color play can be very effective in this pattern. Your choice of colors and placement can make the project appear much more complex and sophisticated. See the link below for Maria Merlino’s take on the granny rectangle.

Over at Mama’s Stitchery, there is another ‘take’ on the granny. A ripple. In this case, the ripple pattern has no foundation chain. If that’s not your cuppa tea, you can still use this pattern to create what to me is a much more sophisticated look made from the same humble granny cluster of stitches. There are a number of variations on the granny ripple. Check Ravelry.com and other sites to see examples.

The granny square is a pattern that all crocheters should master as it’s simple (to most of us), flexible, and attractive. You can make it entirely your own no matter how long this pattern has been around – and that’s a long time. It works up beautifully for baby afghans, Christmas tree skirts, shawls, scarves, etc.